Mr Johnson is now answering questions from journalists, and is first asked about investment in public services - and the fact Labour is promising much greater investment than his own party.

Mr Johnson says his government would deliver "the biggest ever cash boost to the NHS", as well as recruiting 50,000 more nurses and bringing back nurse bursaries.

However, he says this investment is only possible because the Tories would manage the economy "sensibly".

"Some of the spending commitments I’ve seen from Labour staggered even some of his left wing supporters," he adds.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

Wow ....what a short manifesto speech from Boris Johnson.

Just 14 minutes.

It chimes with general low key feel of this manifesto launch (on a wet Sunday afternoon).

Mr Johnson finishes his speech by saying his would be a "sensible, moderate but tax-cutting" government - a promise which saw the audience rise to its feet.

"Can you imagine the negotiations that would take place if the Corbyn-Sturgeon coalition were to come in?" Mr Johnson continues.

"What on earth are they supposed to think in Brussels? Bonjour Monsieur Corbyn... tell us about this deal that you want."

"What do you mean you don't really want it? What do you mean you don't really believe in it, you're not going to advocate it?

"Then who does believe in it? Not Monsieur McDonnell, not Monsieur Starmer, not Madame Abbott. Then who does believe in it? Who! It's farcical."

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

Boris Johnson keeps up the pressure on Labour over NHS by promising 50,000 nurses whereas Labour promised 20,000.

This also copies Labour policy of bringing back nurse bursaries worth up to £8,000 a year

Mr Johnson says a Tory government would "unleash the potential of the whole country".

He says talent is evenly distributed across the country but opportunity is not.

He goes on to contrast his party's policies with those of Labour, which he says will bring higher taxes through "destructive socialism".

Mr Johnson also criticises Mr Corbyn's plan to "rip up our Brexit deal and negotiate a new one".

"We don’t yet know of a single Labour MP who would support this deal," he says.

Not even Mr Corbyn believes in his own deal he adds, again attacking the Labour leader's "neutral" stance.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

There's no detailed policy proposal on social care in the manifesto.

Instead - as previously announced - an extra £1bn a year and an ambition to forge a cross-party consensus.

It's a major omission which will disappoint many of those working with the elderly. Seems social care remains an issue that is simply too expensive and challenging - and so once again is put off.

Continuing his speech, Mr Johnson says: "In this manifesto there is a vision for the future of this country in which we unite our amazing country and level up across the country."

"We believe that after three and a half years of being held back by a broken Parliament it is time to unleash the potential of the whole country and to forge a new Britain."

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

There's no mention in the manifesto of Boris Johnson's promise to raise higher rate tax threshold to £80,000.

That's the second tax u-turn by Mr Johnson after he ditched the promise to cut corporation tax.

Mr Johnson begins his speech by criticising Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's promise to remain neutral in a potential future Brexit referendum.

"Jeremy Corbyn won’t tell us whether he would even be willing to advise people to vote in favour of his own deal," he says.

“He used to be indecisive now he’s not so sure,” Mr Johnson says, prompting laughter from the audience.

“Do we want that kind of leadership?” he asks, repeating his slogan that the Tories would, in contrast, "get Brexit done".

Boris Johnson is now beginning his speech.

"We’re now less than 3 weeks away from the most critical election of modern memory," he says.

"The choice has never been starker."

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

Tory manifesto only 59 pages with lots of pictures - some taking up a full page.

Feels like a deliberately stripped down manifesto to make sure no nasty policy surprises in it.

While we're waiting for Boris Johnson, we can tell you why the Conservatives have chosen the marginal seat of Telford, in Shropshire, for their launch.

Tory MP Lucy Allan held on to it with a majority of 720 in 2017 with 21,777 votes.

The seat has been held by the Conservatives since 2015 but Labour held it continuously from 1997 to 2015.

Labour candidate Katrina Gilman would need a swing of 0.9% to take it this time.

Image source, PA Media

Tory Party chairman James Cleverly is spending a lot of his speech talking about Labour and Jeremy Corbyn.

He says the party leader is offering more "dither and delay" when it comes to Brexit.

"His only chance of power is by cutting a deal with Nicola Sturgeon. And we know what her price would be: another divisive referendum on ripping Scotland from the United Kingdom," he says.

Norman Smith
Assistant political editor

James Cleverly announces "We Will Get Brexit Done" within first 30 seconds.

How many times are we going to hear that from Boris Johnson?

(Just a short time ago, an unusually bashful Boris Johnson walked past cameras and reporters going into speech - with no comment!)

Tory Party chairman James Cleverly is now introducing the prime minister to the stage.

"The stakes at this election are high, but the choice is clear," Mr Cleverly says. "We will get Brexit done."

If you're just joining us, we're waiting for Boris Johnson to take to the stage to announce the Conservative Party's manifesto.

He's expected to speak any minute.

Meanwhile, we're told the manifesto is officially 59 pages long. Many pages inside are full page pictures.

A group of around 50 protesters have gathered outside the Conservatives' manifesto launch, many with Labour rosettes and placards chanting "Tories out".

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Getty Images

As we build up to the Conservative Party manifesto launch, here's a quick recap of what happened this morning:

• We're not expecting Boris Johnson's speech until about 14:00 GMT but many of his party's key pledges have already been previewed, including a promise to bring back his Brexit deal before Christmas. You can read more about the Tories' other election policies in our main story
• Chancellor Sajid Javid told Sky's Sophy Ridge that the manifesto would be accompanied by the "most detailed and most transparent costings ever published in British electoral history"
• On Brexit, cabinet minister Michael Gove told the BBC's Andrew Marr show a Tory government would not extend the transition period beyond the end of December 2020

• Meanwhile, Labour promised compensation for women who lost out on years of state pension payments when their retirement age was raised. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell admitted the policy was expensive but said the funding would be a "very special arrangement, a contingency". Read the full story here
• Nicola Sturgeon has been reiterating her conditions for supporting a Labour government in the event of a hung parliament. The SNP leader said scrapping the Trident nuclear deterrent would be a red line, along with stopping Brexit and a commitment to an independence referendum next year. Read the full story here
• And Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson repeated her promise that her party would not put Boris Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn into No 10. However, she told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that she would vote for a bill which put a Brexit deal to the public in a referendum

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

Boris Johnson's pitch to the voters will feel similar to the pitch he's been making since he became prime minister.

Deliver Brexit - and the country can focus on domestic priorities.

Today we'll see in detail what Mr Johnson's priorities are but we already know there will be more money for the health service, for extra police and for schools.

There will also be pensioner-friendly policies like keeping the triple lock, winter fuel payments and free bus passes for the elderly.

Add into the mix cash for childcare support, fixing potholes and a skills fund and it's clear the Tories are loosening the purse strings.

The party says the manifesto will be fully costed.

But it's already removed one way of raising extra funds to pay for its pledges by promising not to raise income tax, National Insurance or VAT under a Conservative government.